Hello, Hello.....Is anyone here?

I used to write occasionally here several years ago, and then things slowed down. I was pretty content on Dailykos in spite of those who wouldn't allow any deviation from the orthodox progressive positions. I picked my topics, and actually enjoyed the place. But as some of you know they have changed the format dramatically.

Joe,

Hope you caught, or read, Powell's thoughtful explanation of why he is voting for Obama.   He achieved what I sometimes try to do, which is deciding on my decision on issues without having to either publicly or, more important, internally simplify the question into good and evil, right or wrong, black or white.

To: Philip K. Paulson (1947-2006)
Re: Latest decision: Cross can stay

Yeah, you're dead, and as Atheists we believe that it means the end, oblivion, nothingness. But, you know how we all are all the same, reluctant to give up connections with those we are fond of.

The New York Times has another editorial demanding that the current bill be passed immediately. This must be the tenth editorial with this sentiment over the last few months, with none of them indicating the negatives to this bill.

Let me explain my view of why this is so wrong, in so many ways.

Promoted by Brendan

Blogs such as Dailykos are leftist. Our opponents call us Liberals, we describe ourselves as Progressive. But there are those who use stronger terms. Calling us Communists is simply the same as our calling Republicans Fascists. It is the epithet that is so emotionally charged that it is not really an opening for discussion. They have become "fighting words" devoid of actual political implications.

In this country, in most academic settings, Communism and Fascism are discarded relics of an era long gone. You don't get an academic assignment or a book deal, if you are even tainted with this extreme positions.

I just wrote this comment on why people buy large cars:

Promoted by Brendan

Paul Krugman is a gentle man, whose nature is not to be confrontational. So in today's column, rather than accuse the Bush administration of the most outrageous deceit in trying to disguise a continuation of libertarian free market ideology as "reform" he buried this exposure in the text with the title "The Dilbert Strategy "

In Hillary Clinton's speech yesterday she proposed that Alan Greenspan be among three leaders of a committee to resolve our housing-mortgage crisis.

I would imagine that actually Greenspan would be a good selection to this committee, since who more than Alan Greenspan, the prime architect of the current disaster would have a greater interest in providing a soft landing.

And who more than Alan Greenspan, based on his own words, would care less about the ultimate long range consequences of such a bailout.

(cross posted at Dailykos)

Let me see if it's possible not to push the "defend Obama button" here. I know we are hours away from a pivotal moment that may decide whether Obama gets the Democratic nomination, or has to fight for it for a while longer, maybe all the way to the convention.

This diary has nothing to do with that other candidate, I forget her name.

Promoted by Brendan; paragraph from within text copied to top to introduce topic.

When the New York Times printed this story last week "A heartfelt appeal for a graceful exit " it struck a chord, that I wanted to amplify here. The chord is both personal, for me in the not too distant future, and my Aunt, who will turn 105 this month.

This was posted to Dailykos, and presented here with no changes.
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Promoted by Brendan.

It's about torture-whether our country should become so debased as to resort to medieval methods to exact information; or, as the right would say, whether we should retain the ability to force the truth out of someone who is about to cause grave damage to our people. There are two diametrically opposed perspectives, the TV series now about to start its seventh season, 24; and the new film released last week, "Rendition." I watched the 2004-5 season of "24" with rapt attention, and I just came back from seeing "Rendition."

This column by Bob Herbert of the New York Times struck me in a way that he did not anticipate. It was meant to dramatize the tragedy of leaving people to fend for themselves without universal health care. But, it actually illustrated one of the unexamined reasons why such an entitlement will be impossible to achieve in today's America.

For those who may not have been following this issue, this is a house resolution that just passed committee and is scheduled to be brought to the full house within weeks. It will not go to the Senate, as being a resolution it has no force of law and will be "merely" a statement of the sentiment of a majority of the 435 members of this body. The house passes dozens of these resolutions to satisfy its constituents every month, from celebrating the founding of a country, to condemning various actions against civil liberties.

Yesterday I got a call from my sister . Our Aunt Lena was in the hospital after an episode of alimentary distress, that need not be graphically described here. She's doing well, but I can't reach her to ask permission, but I'm pretty sure she would give me the O.K. for this diary if I explained the reason for it, that telling her story might possibly help others. She would say that I could use her as an example, even giving away her secret. In fact I'm going to take the liberty of allowing you to meet her via YouTube, which I will link at the end of the diary.

Yesterday I made a lame attempt at satirizing the Youtube debate in a dailykos diary that went mostly unread. Last night The Daily Show devoted their program to ridiculing the debasement of political discourse of the debate; but I doubt that his audience will really get the message. While Jon Stewart gained stature when he attacked CNN's Crossfire program for turning serious political issues into a shouting match for the sake of audience share, he is really in the same business. His income is based on cultivating an audience, not producing better citizens.

A different take on the impeachment debate. Promoted (with a slight edit) by Specter

(Previously on Dailykos.com, with poll)

.....the only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.

Like the country in those dark days of 1933, we are so consumed by fear, and with anger, that the intensity of our emotion is sapping us of effectiveness. I understand the proscription against calling out, but there is no other way to respectfully respond to the spate of diaries that are dominating the recommend list currently without referencing them. And the very repetition of these diaries lends currency and reinforces their position, with no real opportunity to rebut them.

Congratulations to Autarkh who posted a diary entitled How to Make Impeachment Viable? Bipartisanship yesterday on Dailykos, and I see is front paged here. He managed to say what I attempting with a wit and style than I can't manage. Our messages are almost identical, even though my approach, having worked on the diary for several days now, is different.

One reason it took so long for me to post on Dailykos, where it was originally posted, is the rancor expressed on that site tends to lead concepts like "bipartisanship" to be dismissed, or even considered appeasement by many. So, I continued to try to find more historical evidence to make my point so that it could be heard by the readers there. Actually it was received respectfully, based on the comments. The following was the diary as it appeared there with only a very few edits:

The story begins when I visited the Reagan museum and library at Simi Valley CA. about a year ago. It was a beautiful drive once we were past the congestion of the LA freeways and were on the road to the hilltop site overlooking the glorious view.

With my interest in politics I was viewing the museum with a critical eye, seeing just what balance between the expected hagiography of the recently deceased President would be struck with the complex reality of his political career.

It didn't take me long to find out, and surprisingly the most glaring breach, to me at least, was not relating to the President, but his wife Nancy Reagan. It was in the introductory film that is shown to all who enter the museum.

After writing diaries at Dailykos for going on a year, I've become a bit discouraged.

There seems to be a real aversion for looking at anything that deflects from the anger at the Bush administration. The consensus towards impeachment sees any discussion of the consequences, the practical realities of this as an affront.

I've thought about writing a diary about what a one year Pelosi administration would mean. How do you get a new cabinet, thousands of political appointees in place, when by the time they are confirmed, their tenure is over. If I wrote this on Dailykos, I would just incur comments like, "how many more American will die in Iraq while Bush/Cheney are in office."